Pitchfork: Hard-Fi Celebrate U.S. Release With Tour

Hard-Fi Celebrate U.S. Release With Tour

Ali G ain't da only great thing to come straight outta Staines (in England, near Windsor, where the Queen lives). There's also Hard-Fi, who have found remarkable (and perhaps predictable) success after singer Richard Archer confidently mouthed off to anyone who would listen that his band were going to be the next sure thing.

Cocksure? Of course, but he must be doing something right, because the band was nominated for two Brit Awards this year and grabbed a 2005 Mercury Prize nod for their debut album, Stars of CCTV, which has now surpassed double platinum sales status in the UK. Pitchfork's London cousin says five sold-out upcoming shows at Brixton Academy isn't anything to scoff at either.

Stars of CCTV finally comes out in America today, March 14. Unbelievably, Hard-Fi won't be supporting it with an appearance at that little shindig down in Austin this week. But they will hit up a string of West Coast record shops for in-store performances, and then take their show on the road for a month-long North American tour. (South Padre Island Spring Break 2006!!! WOOOOO!!!) It will culminate in a Coachella appearance on April 29.

For those who like a side of late-night TV host with their young Brit entree, Jimmy Kimmel will feature the band on his show tomorrow night, March 15.

Hard to beat:

03-14 Sherman Oaks, CA - Tower Records (in-store)
03-16 San Diego, CA - M-Theory (in-store)
03-17 San Francisco, CA - Amoeba Records (in-store)
03-18 Portland, OR - Music Millennium (in-store)
03-19 Seattle, WA - Easy Street (in-store)
03-21 South Padre Island, TX - Louie's Backyard
03-23 Atlanta, GA - The Roxy
03-24 St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
03-25 Miami, FL - Global Gathering at Bicentennial Park
03-26 Orlando, FL - House of Blues
03-28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
03-30 Washington, DC - Black Cat
04-01 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
04-02 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
04-04 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
04-05 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre
04-06 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
04-07 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
04-22 Vancouver, British Columbia - Plaza Club *
04-24 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey *
04-25 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan *
04-27 Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
04-28 San Francisco, CA - Slim's *
04-29 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
05-05 Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador
05-07 Manchester, England - Carling Apollo
05-08 Manchester, England - Carling Apollo
05-09 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
05-11 Wolverhampton, England - Civic Hall
05-14 London, England - Carling Brixton Academy
05-15 London, England - Carling Brixton Academy
05-16 London, England - Carling Brixton Academy
05-17 London, England - Carling Brixton Academy
05-18 London, England - Carling Brixton Academy
05-21 Leeds, England - Millennium Square
05-26 Brighton, England - Brighton Centre
06-29 Newcastle, England - Evolution Festival
07-08 Balado, Scotland - T in the Park Festival
07-09 Dublin, Ireland - Oxegen Festival
08-19 Staffordshire, England - Weston Park (V Festival)
08-20 Chelmsford, England - Hylands Park (V Festival)

* with the Rakes

On April 10 in the UK, Hard-Fi will release yet another single from Stars of CCTV, "Better Do Better". It will be available on CD and two varieties of 7", and will be backed by the B-sides "Polish Love Song", "Better Do Better (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version)". The CD version will also feature the "Better Do Better" video, and UMYX software which allows the listener to create his or her own remix of "Hard to Beat".